Refrigerating system and apparatus



March 14, 1939. M. A. MARTIN I REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND' APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1936 I FIG/1 INVENTOR, 3 Mic/vale! ,4. Marlin 4 WFW,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED "STATES PATEN OFFICE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS mcliael A. Martin. Erie, Pa. ApplicailonNovember 18, 1936, Serial No. 111,452

'lClaims.

This invention relates to cooling systems for the lack of available space adjacent the dispens ing apparatus, the beer is usually stored ata remote point such as another room, maintained at a lower temperature than that of the bar. The storage room is usually in the basement of a building. and although ordinarily cooler than the bar, the temperature cannot be maintained below a desired predetermined value without some type of cooling apparatus. This.necessitates separate cooling means for the storage room and the dispenser at the bar.

I have provided a single unit adapted to cool both the storage room for the beverage containers and the beverage dispenser. Additionally, I provide a relatively large supply of cooling liquid at a relatively low temperature adapted to be circulated through the dispenser, and due, to the pre-cooled condition of the beverage or beer, together with the supply of cold liquid quickly available a considerable quantity of beer may be drawn substantially continuously for a considerable period,,without a rise in temperature of the beer above a desired level.

This can be effected without the customary coils or drums through which the beverage passes in the dispenser, but merely a straight length of conduit may be employed, permitting greater ease in cleaning the beverage conduit by a brush or the like, and enlarging the space available in a given size dispenser for cooling liquid.

The temperature of the storage room and the temperature of cooling liquid in the dispenser,

Another objectof my invention is to provide a cooling system and apparatus adapted to cool a'beverage dispenser and a storage room' remote from the dispenser, within which are disposed beverage containers, and wherein means are provided to independently control the temperature of cooling liquid within the dispenser and the storage room temperature.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cooling system and apparatus wherein a beverage dispenser and beverage containers at a point remote from the dispenser are employed, adapted to pre-cool the beverage prior to entering the dispenser and eliminating the necessity of beverage coils or drums within the dispenser thereby providing relatively greater space for the'circulation of cooling liquid through the dispenser.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coolingsystem and apparatus for a beverage dispenser adapted to pre-cool the beverage prior to entering the dispenser and eliminating the neces- Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent from p a consideration of the following description and drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of beverage dispensing apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of a cooling unit illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a circulator unit which I may employ and Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fi x2.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, I have illustrated generally at III a dispenser located in a bar or the like, and comprising a conventional box-shaped and heatinsulated cabinet ll, provided with conventional dispensing nozzles l2. The usual removable cover I3 is provided permitting access to the interior of the dispenser when necessary for cleaning the beverage conduits, or for supplying ice to the dispenser in the event of a temporary shut-down of the cooling apparatus.

For purpose of illustration, I have shown a walk-in storage room generally indicated at H,

located directly beneath the room in which the v dispenser is disposed, but it is understood that the relative location of the bar and storage room is immaterial although a relatively lower temperature is normally maintained in the storage room than in the bar. Within the storage room one or morebeverage containers or barrels I5 may be located, with conduitsindicated at l6 extending upwardly and projected through the dispenser base to connect with the nozzles II. The beverage is elevated to the dispensing nozzles by gas pressure within the containers IS, in the usual manner.

A relatively large pipe I! mounted in the dispenser base and projected through the floor separating the bar and storage room is adapted to encase the beverage conduits I6 preferably for a major portion of their length. In a manner to be 'later described, cooling liquid will be passed through the pipe I! whereby the portion of the beverage conduits l6 disposed therein will be maintained cool when passing through the relatively warmer upper air of the storage room.

Although the pipe I! is illustrated as of relatively short length, it may be of considerable length, dependent upon the location of the beverage containers relative to the dispensers. The conduits l5, externally of the pipe H, are preferably provided with suitable heat insulating material such as sponge rubber tubing.

It will be noted that due to the absence of the usual coil or drum through which the beverage travels in passing through the dispenser, that a substantially rectilinear or gradually curved form of beverage conduit is provided whereby the beverage conduit may be disconnected externally of the pipe H by a coupling l8, and a long brush or the like projected through the conduit to remove undesirable sedimentation formed on the conduit inner walls.

The regularity and degree of cleaning of the beer or beverage conduits is a major factor in rendering beer properly palatable and I have found that liquid cleaning agents for this purpose are unsatisfactory as compared to mechanical means, such as a brush.

Also located within the storage room l4 and preferably mounted on the ceiling thereof is a cooling unit, generally indicated at l9 comprising an outer generally cylindrical shell 20 and an inner generally cylindrical tank 2|.

The outer shell 20 may be mounted in any suitable manner as by straps 22 encircling the shell and secured to the storage room ceiling. The inner tank 2| is supported in co-axial relation to the outer shell by a plurality of longitudinally extending radial fins 23 suitably secured along their edge portions to the shell and tank by welding or similar means. The fins 23 are formed of any suitable material having high heat conductivity.

The tank 2| isprovided with a preferably conical end 24 and a perforated planar end 25 and disposed within the tank is an evaporator 26 of any suitable form having refrigerant supply and return conduits 21 and 28 projected through the tank end 25. The supply conduit 21 extends from a conventional compressor unit 29 through a condenser 30 and liquid receiving tank 3| to an expansion valve 33. The return line 28 leads back to the compressor unit 29.-

The valve 33 is thermally responsive and comprises a capillary tube 34 contacting the return conduit 28 whereby upon a rise of evaporator temperature above a predetermined value; the back pressure of the refrigerant medium in the evaporator will be increased and correspondingly lower the evaporator temperature. A conventional automatic pressure control on the condenser unit controls the operation of the compressor motor in a well known manner to maintain a desired pressure and temperature in the refrigerant system.

The tank 2| is filled with a cooling liquid, such as water or brine, and the temperature of the provided in the pipe II permitting cooling liquid to pass from the tank II to the dispenser. The liquid level in the dispenser is preferably maintained above the dispensing nozzles whereby beverage will be maintained cool up to the point of withdrawal through the nozzles l2.

Although I have illustrated the operation of the compressor as being controlled by an automatic pressure control valve, I contemplate that this may be dispensed with, and the operation of the compressor motor controlled by switch means thermally responsive to the temperature of the cooling liquid in tank 2|.

The manner of effecting circulation of the cooling liquid through the system will now be described. A tube 38 is projected through the side wall of cabinet adjacent the level of the cooling liquid therein, and has a shaft 39 projected thereinto upon the end of which is mounted an impeller 4|). The shaft 39 is actuated by a motor 4| and a liquid seal of the shaft 39 relative to the tube 38 is effected by a stufling-box arrangement 42. A return line 43, leading from the tube 38 to the tank 2| permits the return of cooling liquid to the tank.

The motor 4| is actuated by a thermally responsive switch 44 of any suitable form, but which is illustrated as ,a tube projected into the cooling liquid within the dispenser. The motor is adapted to actuate the impeller and cause circulation of relatively colder liquid from tank 2| through the dispenser upon a rise in temperature of the cooling liquid within the dispenser above a predetermined value. Thus, a relatively large supply of cooling liquid may be maintained in the tank 2| at a low temperature such as 20 Fahrenheit and the dispenser cooling liquid temperature may be maintained at 40 Fahrenheit, and this reserve supply enables a considerably greater quantity of beer or the like to be drawn through the dispenser for a long period while maintaining the beverage temperature below a desired point. I

The conventional method of disposing the evaporator in a dispenser only permits of the heat exchange capacity of the cooling liquid in the dispenser to be utilized, necessitating a large capacity compressor for peak loads, and resulting in inefilcient intermittent operation, since if the temperature of the cooling liquid in the dispenser is lowered too rapidly and to too low a value, the beer in the beverage conduits within the dispenser is liable to freeze. This problem is not encountered insofar as the temperature of the cooling liquid in tank 2| is concerned.

Thus, a relatively small capacity compressor may be employed in my system, and run substantially continuously, resulting in increased elliciency.

The manner of maintaining the temperature in the storage room below a predetermined value will now be described. One end of the shell 20 has a motor 50 mounted therein which operates a fan responsive to the temperature of the storage room 4, under the control of a thermal responsive switch of any suitable type, indicated at 52. Actuation of the fan 5| is adapted to draw air through perforations indicated at 53 provided in an end of the shell 20, and force the air over the tank 2| .and intermediate the fins 23, whereby it will be cooled,,due to the high heat conductivity of the fins .23 and their resultant high heat exchange capacity.- The air thus cooled will drop to the floor of the storage room ll displacing warmerairwhich will be drawn through the perforations 53 to maintain the room temperature below a predetermined value.

It will be noted that the room temperature control is independent of the dispenser cooling liquid temperature control, and that the temperature oi the cooling liquid within tank 2| will provide proper coolingfor controlling both temperature limits.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I contemplatethat numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cooling unit adapted to provide a supply of cooling liquid for a beverage dispenser and to control temperature within a beverage storage room, said unit comprising a tank adapted to contain cooling liquid, heat exchange means within the tank adapted to maintain the liquid below a predetermined temperature, conduit means adapted to transmit the cooling liquid from the tank to the dispenser, and means for circulating air in the room over the tank to cool the air, comprising guide means directing the air in heatexchange relation with the tank and fan means directing air through the guide means.

2. The combination with a beverage dispenser adapted to contain cooling liquid, of a unit adapted to be disposed in a beverage storage room, said unit comprising a tank adapted to contain cooling liquid, heat exchange means within the tank adapted to maintain the liquid below a predetermined temperature, conduit means interconnecting the dispenser and tank whereby liquid may be transmitted therebetween, circulating means associated with the conduit means adapted to effect circulation of relatively cold liquidfrom the tank to the dispenser responsive to the temperature of cooling liquid in the dispenser, and means for circulating air in the storage room over the tankto cool the same responsive to the air temperature comprising guide means directing air in heat exchange relation with thetank and fan means for circulating air through the guide means.

3. The combination with a cooling, unit adapted to be disposed in a beverage storage room, of a beverage dispenser disposed at a remote point and adapted to contain a cooling liquid, the unitcomprising a tank adapted to contain 'coolin liquid, heat exchange means associated with the tank adapted to maintain the liquid therein below a predeterminedtemperature, said temperature being substantially lower than the normal temperature of the cooling liquid in the dispenser, conduit means interconnecting the tank and dispenser, circulating means operably responsive to the temperature of cooling liquid in the dispenser to force relatively colder liquid from the tank to the dispenser, a shell encircling said tank and spaced therefrom, and fan means associated with the shell adapted to force air intermediate the tank and shell responsive to storage room temperature.

4. .The combination with a storage room having a beverage container therein, a beverage dispenser disposed externally oi the storage room, and a beverage supply line extending from the container to the dispenser, of a conduit communicating with the dispenser and extending therefrom a substantial distance into the storage room the supplytank in spaced relation, and fan means operable responsive to storage room temperature for circulating air intermediate the supply tank and shell. 5. A cooling unit adapted to provide a supply of cooling liquid for a beverage dispenser and lower temperature within a. beverage storage room, said unit comprising a tank adapted to contain cooling liquid, heat exchange means associated with the tank and adapted to maintain the liquid below a predetermined temperature, conduit means adapted to transmit the cooling liquid from the tank to the dispenser, guide means adapted to direct storage room air in heat exchange relation with the tank, and fan means directing storage room air through the guide means operably responsive to the storage room temperature.

6. The combination with a storage room hav- 'ing a beverage container therein, a beveragedispenser disposed externally of the storage room, and a beverage supply line extending from the container to the dispenser, of a conduit communicating with the dispenser and extending therefrom a substantial distance into the storage room in encircling relation to the supply line, a cooling liquid supply tank in the storage room, means for maintaining the liquid in the tank below a predetermined temperature, means for transmitconduit whereby the beverage supply line may be cooled prior to the cooling liquid entering the dispenser, return means including pump means for transmitting cooling liquid from the dispenser to the supply tank, the pump means being operably responsive to cooling liquid tem- "perature, guide means adapted to direct air in heat exchange relation to the tank, and fan means for directing air to the guide means.

'7. A unit adapted to maintain air temperature in a room within which it is disposed below a pre-determined value to pre-cool a liquid thereby and to further cool said liquid at a point remote from the room by a cooling liquid, said ting cooling liquid from the supply tank to the unit comprising a tank adapted to contain liquid,

the same.

LHCHAE'L A. MARTIN. 

